Kudos, Congratulations and Applause!

Well, by now you would have to be either deaf, blind or living in a cave in the desert sans any communication device to have not heard something about NBA Center Jason Collins coming out story.  Collins announced to the world that he is Gay from the front cover and the pages of Sports Illustrated that went on line yesterday and will be out in print on Monday.  Collins who wears number 98 in honor of Matthew Shepard begins his story with this: "I didn't set out to be the first openly gay athlete playing in a major American team sport. But since I am, I'm happy to start the conversation. I wish I wasn't the kid in the classroom raising his hand and saying, "I'm different." If I had my way, someone else would have already done this. Nobody has, which is why I'm raising my hand."  Everyone who is anyone has had something to say about his story from President Obama and First Lady Michele on down through Pro Athletes, Celebrities to the Fundies, Evangelicals and Wing Nuts.  Hudson Taylor's Athlete Ally program is gathering signatures on a letter of  support to be delivered next week that you can sign here.  Most of the responses have been incredibly Supportive of him and here is a Roundup of the Supportive and Some Ridiculous responses.  Then there is Cyd Zeigler's emotional 'The Meaning of Jason Collins' Coming Out' over at OutSports which is a must read.  For a look and listen to the wing-nuttery there is Porno Pete's 'advice' to Jason Collins and AFA's spokeshater Bryan Fischer's warning to the NBA that Jason is gonna eyeball them in the showers.  

• My favorite response to Fischer comes from Dan Savage who is never afraid to tell it like it is: "What this debate comes down to ultimately is not who gay people are and where gay people are. We are who we are and we are everywhere. If there's no openly gay people in whatever environment you're in or whatever environment you're talking about that doesn't mean there are no gay people. There's no openly gay people. I think ultimately what this comes down to is who straight people are. This isn't about whether Jason Collins or other athletes who happen to be gay are pansies. It's about whether heterosexual men and heterosexual athletes in locker rooms are pansies. If they're afraid of gay men, if they're jumping up on chairs and shrieking and too afraid to shower in the same conditions that marines, and sailors, and airmen shower in...Are straight people better than they've been built? Are straight people less bigoted than they've convinced themselves they are? I think they are less bigoted as we saw in the military after the 'DADT' repeal and a lot of LGBT soldiers came out and it was a non-issue and they were accepted."

Kudos, Congratulations and Applause to Jason Collins for his Courage in Coming Out and a big Bite Me/Fuck You to those solidly entrenched in their fear and bigotry,  I hope this is the hole in the dam that leads to a flood of Pro Athletes who are not afraid to come out as LGBT or Allies. 

Your Musical Moment for today features Serenades for 'Concors Discordia', Opus 2 by Austrian Baroque Composer Benedikt Anton Aufschnaiter.  Today's performance is by L'Orfeo Baroque Orchestra directed by Michi Gaigg.  Included in the play list are Serenade No. 4 à 5 in A minor, Serenade No. 3 à 5 in G minor, Serenade No. 5 à 5 in F major, Serenade No. 2 à 4 in F major, Serenade No. 1 à 4 in G major and Serenade No. 6 à 5 in B flat major.  Following the play list is a scrumptious selection of Tuesday's Temptations to examine and appreciate as you wend your way down the page.  Thanks for spending part of your Tuesday here at Nichevo. Until next time as always, Enjoy!